The Dever April 2021

The

Dever

The Journal of the Upper Dever Valley

April 2021

80p

First-Sunday-in-the-Month - Easter Nature Walk Sunday 4th April 2021 FREE ENTRY

The Dixon Family kindly invite us to walk through the grounds of Warren Farmhouse. We pass the front of this lovely home with the date 1775 high on the front wall.

There are nature activities for children, in the Walled Garden, and items of interest marked on the way around.

More info: suebell0906@gmail.com Half a mile circular walk.

Easy walking. Suitable for children’s buggies.

Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult .

Set off from the Warren Centre at your convenience between 10.30 and 11.30 am. (There will be some stewards to guide you.) We walk down Warren Lane. The back gate to the Warren Farmhouse grounds will be open. We can enter the lovely old Walled Garden then walk up the main drive. We go back along the path through the trees, down to the Recreation Field.

The

Dever

Contents View from the Vicarage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 News from Woodmancote & Popham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Micheldever Village Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 New Treasurer of The Dever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Micheldever Village Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Dever Society News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 We Need You! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Micheldever WI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Micheldever School News for April . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 The Questor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 April Services – Upper Dever Valley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Parish Council News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 In the Garden – April . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 From Our MP, Steve Brine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Micheldever & Stratton Pre School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Spring in Art and Literature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Jackie’s County Corner for April . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 City Councillors’ News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Our Lives, Our Future ~ Remember To Vote On May 6th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Citizens Advice Winchester District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Weeds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Forthcoming Events 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Sudoku . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 April Diary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 The Dever - April 2021 3

Upper Dever Contacts Priest in Charge

Ordinand Benefice Cordinator

Rev'd John Rennie

Dr Robert Rees Clare Fancourt

01962 760827

07590 909811 coordinator.upperdever@hotmail.com

Church Wardens

St. Mary the Virgin Micheldever Jan Mason 01962 774362 Juliet Pattinson 01962 774399 Holy Trinity Wonston Sarah Hobhouse 01962 760003 St Mary & St Michael Stoke Charity Ruth Guy 01962 760259

All Saints’ East Stratton Chris Hilling Ed Beckwith St James’ Hunton Campbell Dye St James’ Woodmancote Linda Albin Mary Wallis

Websites

01962 795134 01962 774918 01962 760001 01256 397616 01256 397271

St Mary the Virgin www.stmarysmicheldever.co.uk Holy Trinity www.wonstonchurch.co.uk Editor: Peter O’Keefe 07515 339279 1 Canada Cottages, Overton Road, Micheldever Station, SO21 3AN. Email: editor@thedever.org

The Dever Annual Subscription January to December for 12 issues: £8.00; £14.00 by post.

Articles for May issue to be received by the editor before 15th April please.

Articles printed in The Dever are accepted ‘as is’ and may not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Editorial Team.

Printing: Richard Vellacott and team

Treasurer: Tony Patston

Subscriptions Enquiries & Distribution

Micheldever Maureen Allan Micheldever Station Andy Adams East of railway line Ann Hawkins West of railway line

07702 879865 01962 774363 01962 774956

01962 774516 01256 397429 07548 955374

Dever Advertiser Sales: email:

Editor: 4

East Stratton Olly Bramley Woodmancote Liz Hawkesworth External/Postal Caroline Knight

01962 795028

Amanda Forsey deveradvertiser@hotmail.com 01962 774115 07500 334393 Roger Forsey The Dever - April 2021

View from the Vicarage New Beginnings Easter is indeed a time for new beginnings. We celebrate the new life and hope that Jesus gave to the world when he was raised from the dead in such a remarkable way.

Our Christian festivals give shape to our calendar years. As we progress through the year we move from Jesus birth, to his passion and death and then his resurrection.

Then 40 days later Jesus returns to his Father and the Holy Spirit is released on all his followers.

Each festival has its awesome moment which draws us in to the bigger story and its impact on our world.

Somehow this last year has been fashioned by an invisible but powerful virus that has caused havoc on a global scale. Wrecking economies, families, and education.

Its easy to think that such events define our lives but we have only to turn to the Bible to realise that these interruptions in our lives are to be expected. They have always been so as past generations had to live through wars, others had to survive plagues which swept across Europe and many lives were wrecked by the depression, and Wall Street crash.

As God’s people we have to keep our eye on our goal of living in the light of the new life he has given us through the death and resurrection of Jesus.

It was this new life that sustained the disciples when Jesus was so cruelly taken away from them after just 3 years of ministry.

God sustained the early church through waves of oppression with world leaders determined to rid the world of this New Way. Strangely it was just a relative handful of disciples that carried the good news of Jesus forward after his death. There were probably just 130 followers of Jesus at the time of his death so when the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost and 5,000 turned to him that was a huge increase in the church.

Today Christians are joined across the globe by a single desire to live out the new life that Jesus has implanted in our lives. Without it we are lost and we will just wait on the sidelines for the next pandemic or world disaster to hit us.

Its only through knowing Jesus and his sovereign power in our lives that we can look forward confidently in these uncertain days.

John Rennie

The Dever - April 2021 5

News from Woodmancote & Popham It has been another relatively quiet month in Woodmancote. We did however have some marvellous Mothering Sunday posies available to collect from St. James’ Church on Mothers Day; they were simply gorgeous and brightened up any window sill.

I’d like to thank Mary Wallis, Linda Albin, Liz Hawkesworth and Alex Macpherson for taking the time and trouble to make them. The posies were very much appreciated.

Easter is fast approaching, I love how the Churchyard looks at this time of year with all the yellow primroses coming out, so pretty.

It is comforting to feel we are in a much better position, regarding the

Pandemic, than we were 12 months ago.

Although that said, unfortunately Church Services will not be back to normal. There is an outside Easter Service being led by Rev’d John at 10am in the Micheldever Churchyard on Easter Sunday, everyone will of course be warmly welcomed.

We very much hope that here in Woodmancote the Easter bunny might be persuaded to pop out and about again and you might be lucky enough to be left a little surprise on your gate like last year!

May you all have a very happy Easter wherever you are.

Jane

Micheldever Village Store (William Helen’s Response) Following the article printed in last month’s Dever magazine it is with dismay that I find myself having to write this response, but I need to provide clarity to residents.

The PC has always supported the provision of a shop in the community, firstly with a number of grants and loans to the village store in Micheldever (old site) and provision of shelving etc. at East Stratton. Once the village hub was proposed we were happy to support the project to provide funds to erect a suitable mobile building at the Half Moon and Spread Eagle site.

The original village shop location was, 6

from the outset, the preferred site for a shop, and the PC did all in its power to ensure that the owner of the site conformed to the planning conditions set on the redevelopment. As this did not result in the provision of a new shop at the site the MCES group have sought locations other than the village hub site to locate the shop. The Micheldever Cricket Club grounds have been approached and refused, and the PC has been approached on many occasions by almost all members of the MCES committee to allow the shop to be located at the Lord Rank Playing Field (LRPF) with, on every occasion, the same explanation being The Dever - April 2021

given. The LRPF was purchased from the Lord Rank Trust following over 6 months of negotiations to conform to conditions laid down by the Lord Rank Trust. The PC tried to broaden the use of the field to allow development on the site of any community resource as it saw fit in the future - a doctors’ surgery may have been desired as well as a possible village sports hall. However, this was clearly not to be allowed by the trust. The PC gave its word that the field would be used for sport and recreation only, as desired by the trust, and therefore this condition should be adhered to. It is for this reason

that the PC cannot support this location.

Alternative locations proposed include the stable block by Waterloo Cottages (not far from old shop or school), the ticket office at Micheldever Station and cart shed at The Dove Inn to mention but a few, and should be considered by MCES group if previous suggestions cannot be utilised. The PC has met with WCC members and has confirmed that the stable unit would be a suitable site and support its development for this purpose.

I hope the above detail explains the present status of shop provision again.

William Helen

New Treasurer of The Dever I am very grateful to Tony Patston who has agreed to take over as Treasurer from me.

He has set up a new bank account and any outstanding subs should be paid

direct to him at Bluebell Cottage please.

The bank details can be obtained by telephoning him on 01962 795028 email:tonypatston@gmail.com Paul Knight

Micheldever Village Store Well……. you will, undoubtedly, have seen the “Sold” sign! Just as we prepared for a continuation of the discussion with the Parish Council regarding the perfect location for a village store, the shop premises in the middle of the village has been sold. It has been intimated that the buyer is intent on delivering a village shop.

More than that at this stage is unknown.

Clearly, until the situation clarifies a little further down the line of the purchase process, it will be imprudent for

MCES to continue with its endeavours to establish a village store elsewhere.

That said, the endeavour is far from abandoned - merely put on hold for the time being, for review when the realities of the shop premises are known.

From the MCES perspective, a privately run village store should be a real bonus, precluding the need to raise money to provide a store and then run it as a community venture. Fingers crossed…….

CH

The Dever - April 2021 7

Dever Society News Winchester’s Local Plan Your chance to have your say on development in the district Deadline 12 April

The new Local Plan – the housing and development blueprint for Winchester district Winchester City Council has published details about the new Local Plan, the all-important policy document that when agreed will set out the sites that will accommodate the homes that need to be built across the district through to 2038.

The Government has instructed the council that 14,000 dwellings should be built, roughly 700 per year.

The previous Local Plan has already identified where many of these homes will go, but the new Plan will make decisions on where the rest will be built. The council is asking residents for their views on four possible options for how to meet this target. One of these, Option 3, is to build a new settlement on greenfields in the district.

Micheldever new town Option 3 puts the prospect of the new town at Micheldever squarely in the frame.

The owners of the land at Micheldever Station are heavily promoting their plan to build a town the size of Petersfield or Romsey in the Dever Valley. The town would be huge, with upwards of 8,300 houses. It would be a disaster for the 8

environment, destroy our communities and 1,300 acres of countryside.

If the council rejects Option 3 at this stage of the Plan’s development, then the new town threat is greatly diminished.

The Dever Society supports the process and agrees with the need for new homes, but we strongly believe that brownfield and previously built on sites should be developed before any greenfield sites are considered.

Building a large new settlement and destroying swathes of pristine habitat would be an environmental travesty and we are compiling a detailed response to the consultation to make sure Option 3 is rejected.

Please make your voice heard We urge you to tell the council that you do not support new towns in the countryside. If we are to stop Micheldever new town then the council needs to hear from as many people as possible that Option 3 is the WRONG option for the district.

There are a number of ways to do this.

The easiest way is to send an email with your objection to Option 3 to: planningpolicy@winchester.gov.uk Or you can write to: Local Plan Consultation Winchester City Council City Offices Colebrook Street Winchester SO23 9LJ The Dever - April 2021

The deadline for responding is 12th April Further information about the Local Plan is available at the council’s dedicated website www.localplan.winchester.gov.uk where you can respond to the full

consultation. Apart from housing, the Local Plan will cover issues such as the environment, the economy and transport.

Any queries please contact: admin@deversociety.org

The Dever Society AGM Tuesday 13th April 2021 at 7:30pm Virtually via Zoom With guest speakers:

Cllr Jackie Porter Chair of Local Plan Advisory Group, Winchester City Council Providing an update on the Winchester Local Plan and

Dave Worley Presenting a talk on the ‘Night Sky’ – how we see stars

Please join us – all welcome Tickets are free and can be booked via www.eventbrite.co.uk – type Dever Society in the search box

The Dever Society works to conserve, protect and celebrate Hampshire’s rural heartland admin@deversociety.org

The Dever - April 2021 9

We Need You! The new Village website is live.

All relevant information from the old site has been transferred.

The history pages make fascinating reading, with memories of the village and surrounding area going back to the early 1900s.

But there are gaps and we need your help to fill them!

Is your house included?

Do you have any information to share?

We would love more photos, memories and anecdotes to publish.

Please check out the website www.micheldevervillages.org

and email further details to be added to micheldevervillages123@gmail.com

Micheldever WI It is with sadness that I am writing this month to let you know that, unfortunately, our members have decided that Micheldever WI is no longer viable and will be closing with effect from the 31 March 2021.

Our membership has been dropping away for several years and now our numbers have decreased to where it would be impractical and uneconomical to continue. For some of us it will be a move to pastures new as we join other WIs in Winchester or the local district.

In the future, should anyone be interested in starting a new Micheldever WI, please email reception@hampshirewi.org.uk to be put in touch with a WI Adviser to help you do this.

Before I finally sign off, how did you get on with last month’s quiz? I hope you enjoyed solving the clues – here are the

10

answers......

1) Troy 2) Luna 3) Isis 4) Eros 5) Aurora 6) Venus 7) Cassandra 8) Pluto 9) Phoebe 10) Jupiter 11) Hercules 12) Diana 13) Zeus 14) Jacob 15) Mercury 16) Calypso 17) Gaia 18) Paris 19) Saturn 20) Pandora 21) Uluru 22) Sphynx 23) Pan 24) Penelope 25) Daphne 26) Midas 27) Tantalus 28) Vesta 29) Orion 30) Ajax So, after 103 years, the WI says farewell to Micheldever.

With thanks for your support and best wishes to you all, Take Care Gina and the members of Micheldever WI (Gina Ireland 0748 6397 514) HCFWI Micheldever Secretary

The Dever - April 2021

Micheldever School News for April The noise of children is filling our school again!

On Monday 8th March, it was a delight to welcome all children into our school building again. The children have certainly hit the ground running and got back into the swing of things very quickly.

Across the school we had a science focus, linking in with British Science Week. We focused around the idea of innovating and were able to present four children in our school with ‘Innovator of the Week’ certificates. Children in key stage 2 linked their science learning with their current project and thought about how to slow the melting of icebergs and designed and created their own boats. Do have a look at our weekly newsletters on our website to see some photos of their creations.

We have encouraged the children to be taking part in several activities to promote teamwork and collaboration and it has been wonderful to see the children rebuilding their friendships.

Over the course of the past term, whilst meeting online and then in our school bubbles, we have focused on the idea of inclusion and teamwork. We have spoken about the idea of how each person is unique and special and brings something different to the teams we work in, including the classes we are in, and our whole school. We have likened this to a machine that is made up of lots of different gears and cogs that, whilst they are all individual, work together to make the machine work. All the children

and adults in the school have designed their own cog that we have linked together in a display to show how we all work together. We are looking forward to sharing it with you all when you are allowed back inside our school building.

You may have also seen that at the front of the school we have begun regenerating our front playground to make it a space that our older children can use for their wellbeing. We will be able to share a full update on it in the next Dever Magazine.

As we approach Easter, we have been reminding ourselves as a school community of the Easter story and the trial, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.

We have been celebrating the hope that we feel at Easter and reflecting on the hope that we now feel as we have returned to school and the COVID restrictions are beginning to be lifted. We have spoken about the excitement of seeing friends and family again and the excitement that Jesus’ disciples must have felt after his resurrection. As a school, we wish you a very happy Easter and hope that you too are looking forward to the rest of 2021.

Mr T. Johnston, Acting Head, Micheldever Primary School, 01962 774213

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The Questor The Wild Gospel..… …..Managing change If you think Mark Zuckerberg has problems managing the growth of Facebook in the 21st century, try managing a spiritual movement that is growing exponentially and internationally in the 1st century – without the use of social media, phones, internet, TV......

It’s interesting that all the talk at present is of whether it will be necessary to regulate social media platforms as they experience explosive growth. The same was necessary for the early church. As a result of the rate of growth and the geographic spread, different interpretations emerged of how the church should operate and what its doctrine was.

The big issues were resolved at ‘Ecumenical Councils’ which were conferences of church leaders and theological experts brought together to settle matters of teaching and practice.

These Councils took place from time to time and were a big deal because it involved many people coming together from all over the known world.

The first of these Councils is described in the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament and took place in Jerusalem.

It wasn’t such a big affair as later ones but was extremely important to the future of the church. The big issue it considered was whether all male members of the church should be circumcised.

This issue came about because the church in Palestine was mainly made up of people who had originally been brought up as Jews. They still felt a strong allegiance to the Law of Moses and believed that all members of the 12

new church should do the same. So they sent some of their people to Antioch where there was a large non Jewish church membership and told them that all males should be circumcised.

Paul and Barnabas were horrified because, not surprisingly, this was a major stumbling block for people who would otherwise have joined the church. They argued with the people from Jerusalem and the leaders of the local church decided to send them to Jerusalem to resolve the issue with the church leaders there.

Those for circumcision and those against each made their case and then the Leaders and Apostles withdrew to consider the arguments. After much discussion, Peter addressed them. He reminded them that at one time they had thought that the Message was only meant for the Jews; but God had shown them that it was also meant for the non Jews. What’s more, the non Jews had received the gift of the Holy Spirit in exactly the same way as the Jews.

He went on to remind them God had purified the hearts of both Jews and non Jews by faith alone and that they were all saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus.

Then the whole assembly listened in silence as Paul and Barnabas told them of the wonderful things that had been done among the non Jews.

Finally, James, the brother of Jesus, gave his verdict. He said that they shouldn’t make it difficult for non Jews to become Christians. So they should write a letter to them making this clear while at the same time telling them that they shouldn’t eat food that had been offered to idols, they should refrain from sexual immorality The Dever - April 2021

and should not consume blood or the meat of strangled animals. The letter is re-produced in Acts chapter 15.

They sent two of their people with Paul and Barnabas to deliver the letter and it was very well received in Antioch.

This first Council took place in AD50.

It was followed by other, much larger gatherings over the next six or seven hundred years. In each case their purpose was to resolve differences of opinion between different parts of the church.

Some of these issues were not resolved to the satisfaction of all of the attendees and that led to the various branches of the church being established. So the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Egyptian Coptic Church etc diverged in terms

of teaching while still belonging to the overall Christian community.

Such Councils continue to be held in our times. For example, the Vatican Council meets to consider issues such as whether the Catholic Church should allow birth control by contraception; and the worldwide Anglican Church Synod considers issues such as its position with regard to the LGBT community.

As with the Council in Jerusalem, we trust that the modern day issues are addressed in the light of the grace of our Lord Jesus and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Next month – Back on the Road

Sidesmen & Readers ~ St Mary the Virgin April 4th 10.00 am

Sides-duty Juliet Pattinson, Jan Mason & Matthew Cobb Readers TBC 1 Corinthians 15.1-11

Isaiah 25.6-9

April 11th 10.00 am

Sides-duty Reader

TBC Xander Balmain

TBC

April 18th 6.00 pm

Sides-duty Readers

David Findley Gail Bates Jan Hallam

Acts 3.12-19 Zephaniah 3.14-20

Holy Dusters April St James

Flowers and Cleaning

Mary Wallis

The Dever - April 2021 13

April Services – Upper Dever Valley April 4th 10.00 am

11.00 am

April 11th 10.00 am

10.00 am

11.00 am

6.00 pm

Holy Trinity - Wonston

St Mary the Virgin - Micheldever St James - Hunton Holy Trinity - Wonston St James - Woodmancote

Third Sunday of Easter

Holy Communion Rev’d John Rennie Morning Prayer Roland Guy Family Service Ruth Guy Refresh - informal service Evening Prayer Rev’d John Rennie

April 25th

St Mary the Virgin - Micheldever

Second Sunday of Easter

Family Service Ruth Guy Holy Communion Rev’d John Rennie Morning Prayer Peter Russell Evening Prayer James Gray/Rev’d John Rennie

April 18th 10.00 am

10.00 am

11.00 am

4.00 pm 6.00 pm

Easter Sunday

Family Communion (outside) Rev’d John Rennie Family Communion (outside) Rev’d Neil Britton

All Saints - East Stratton

St Mary & St Michael - Stoke Charity Holy Trinity - Wonston St Mary & St Michael - Stoke Charity St Mary the Virgin - Micheldever

Fourth Sunday of Easter

10.00 am ONLINE SERVICE (YouTube)

(the link will be available nearer the time) For details of how to access online services, please contact the Parish Co-ordinator, Email: coordinator.upperdever@hotmail.com

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The Dever - April 2021

Parish Council News Volunteers sought for Greening Campaign How green are you? Would you like to help your Parish to reduce their carbon footprint? The Parish Council have signed up to join the Greening Campaign which encourages communities to compete in a local challenge to reduce their carbon footprint.

We need a small steering committee of residents to assist in the launch of the scheme. It is not anticipated that it would take a lot of your time and meetings would, for the time being, be held virtually. If you would be interested in attending a short virtual meeting to find out more please contact the Clerk (as below).

Winchester Local Plan – very important in respect of future of development As part of the Local Plan process, Winchester City Council have launched the Strategic Issues and

Priorities Consultation which is open until 12th April 2021.

The new Local Plan will be effective to 2038 and will determine the development of new homes and businesses during this period. Residents are strongly urged to make their opinions known by responding to the consultation which can be found at www.localplan.winchester.gov.uk It is not necessary to answer all the questions but we would ask you in particular to consider your response to question 6 which asks you to rank, in order of preference, four different options for the allocation of new development – one of these options is for a ‘new town’ style development.

If you do not have internet access, paper copies of the proposals and a feedback form can be obtained by calling 01962 848508 The Parish Council can be contacted via Jocelyn, the Clerk, micheldeverpc@hotmail.co.uk or 01794 368951

In the Garden – April There is a lot of debris lying in the garden after the strong winds of early March and let’s hope that April will live up to its reputation of sunshine and showers.

Cherry and ornamental plum trees are flowering, as is the blackthorn in the roadside hedges and the cowslips are beginning to flower, following the primroses and daffodils Ή Rabbits are beginning to appear again, protect young shrubs and plants with netting. Ή Inspect sick looking box and holly for signs of blight

Ή Remove frost damaged shoots from evergreens Ή Repair bare patches in lawns Ή Check and loosen tree ties that might be digging into the bark Ή Inspect lidded plastic compost bins and give them a good stir, if they seem too wet add shredded paper/cardboard Ή Delay pruning forsythia and japonica until after they have finished flowering Ή Tie in clematis and honeysuckle, twining shoots around their supports Ή Feed hungry shrubs and roses Ή Sow hardy annuals, herbs and wild flower seed outdoors. CK

The Dever - April 2021 15

From Our MP, Steve Brine We have to start with a big event! I was pleased to take part in last month–a first for Winchester – an online rally.

Organised by the Save South Winchester campaign group, and the excellent Dever Society, it was a chance to make clear our opposition to proposed new towns either side of the city. Of course, we’re all too familiar with the fight against Micheldever new town but even after many wins over the years it won’t go away.

As I said to the event, the ongoing review of Winchester City Council’s Local Plan is an opportunity to protect the precious landscape setting for many years to come. The need for these large schemes has never been shown and we should be clear Winchester has no need to build anywhere near this many houses so there is no credible route whatsoever to an argument framed–for RoyalDown or Micheldever–which says Central Government made us do it. Please contact your city councillors and make your voice heard within the local plan process.

As the Covid roadmap plays out, I am doing my best to get the Winchester view into Government; especially around the future of our hospitality sector which is still closed. The “recovery grants” will help – as will the widening of the Self Employed Income Support Scheme for others – but I’m nervous as to what normal looks like when the dust settles.

As a former Public Health Minister, who 16

The on-line rally

had responsibility for the international health portfolio, I am doing some work on the origins of covid and building resilience to future pandemics.

To build strength in the domestic health system, we are establishing the National Institute for Health Protection which will be responsible for ensuring our readiness to respond in future. Combining the health protection capabilities of PHE with NHS Test and Trace, including the UK-wide Joint Biosecurity Centre, and building on the experiences of Covid-19, I welcome it but am keen to scrutinise and help Ministers get it right.

On the international stage, we are leading a global approach. At the UN General Assembly last year, the Prime Minister set out an ambitious plan including a global network of zoonotic research hubs to spot new pandemics before they begin, by identifying pathogens before they leap from animals to humans. There’s also increased R&D and manufacturing capacity for treatments and vaccines to ensure treatments are ready to deploy against emerging threats as well as improved horizon scanning and early warning systems.

This is all positive, and the UK will The Dever - April 2021

use its G7 Presidency this year to further the agenda as I welcomed in the House recently, but we need all countries on-board.

That’s why, in parallel, I am pressing Ministers for the Government’s view on the origins of Covid-19 but also the effectiveness of the WHO’s mission to China and Wuhan.

US President, Joe Biden, has raised concerns over the mission and China’s lack of transparency and cooperation.

What emerges must be robust, open and scientifically rigorous or we’re never going to make progress.

Much more, and daily updates, please ‘follow’ www.fb.com/SteveBrineMP Steve Brine MP for Winchester & Dever Valley

Micheldever & Stratton Pre School What a month it has been! We have been so lucky to have some new children join our lovely little preschool family and the children have been so kind and gentle to their new friends. It has been a busy month with lots of learning and exciting opportunities to be had. We have especially loved celebrating World Book Day and the children and staff dressed up beautifully. At Forest School we have been looking at signs of Spring and learnt about the bat creatures too and we’ve had a walk around the forest to identify different features in our environment. What an exciting time.

We are so lucky that we can resume our face to face socially distanced extra curricular sessions in pre school, we have Andy from Rugby Tots and Ms Laura from Elibah School of Dance coming into the pre school, the children really enjoy these additional sessions that give an added dimension to their Early Years Education.

Our timetable is super busy but so much fun too and all whilst we learn through our play:Mondays we run Forest School in the Blackwood Forest, Tuesdays is Rugby Tots with Andy

Wednesdays are our cooking days with Moira Thursdays are our dancing days with Ms Laura Fridays we have a Fun Cosmic Friday with Nikie We do have some availability at the moment, so if you would like or know someone who is looking for a small family feel run community pr eschool, please do get in touch. We pride ourselves on our motto that ‘Every Child Matters & Every Child Counts’. Please contact our preschool leader Mrs. Nicola Rae at leader. micheldeverpreschool@gmail.com

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Spring in Art and Literature What do you do in lockdown if you are one of the world’s most popular and highly regarded artists?

If you are David Hockney, you draw. All day. Every single day.

And so it was that last spring, David Hockney was at his centuries-old Normandy farmhouse with his dog Ruby, surrounded by acres of fruit trees, when he thought it would be a good place to draw and paint the arrival of spring on his iPad. Years ago, Hockney painted the arrival of spring in Yorkshire, not far from where he’d grown up, and he relished the notion of drawing it again in the French countryside that inspired the Impressionists.

He was attracted to Normandy because it offered a broad range of blossoms, with apple, cherry, pear and plum trees as well as hawthorn and blackthorn.

So, in February 2020, Hockney started to draw the arrival of spring in Normandy. As the first lockdown came in France, which reported one of the highest numbers of coronavirus cases in Europe, the ever-optimistic painter sent a message of hope and released his joyous image of daffodils (pictured) entitled “Do Remember They Can’t Cancel the Spring.”

Over several months the artist rose with the sun and went out to his four acres of orchard to look for something to paint. He captured the unfolding beauty of spring and painted 116 new and optimistic works in praise of the natural world.

In April 2020 further images were released for publication for people to enjoy during the confines of lockdown.

Of those, my favourite image is the tree in blossom (pictured). It positively glows with brightness and vitality, bursting with colour and life. To me it says “Spring is coming, and no doubt better days….”

The artist’s work will be the subject of an exhibition, The Arrival of Spring Normandy, 2020, at The Royal Academy of Arts in London from 23rd May to 1st August 2021.

And finally, an extract from the beautiful poem “Spring” by Christina Rossetti :“There is no time like Spring, When life’s alive in everything, Before new nestlings sing, Before cleft swallows speed their journey back Along the trackless track – God guides their wing, He spreads their table that they nothing lack, – Before the daisy grows a common flower Before the sun has power To scorch the world up in his noontide hour……”

Juliet Pattinson

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Jackie’s County Corner for April Hopefully some of you will have received notice of vaccination by the time you read this. But that doesn’t mean that everyone’s problems will be over. You can ask for advice on Hampshire’s Coronavirus Support & Helpline 0333 370 4000. Maybe you have time to be a telephone buddy to a lonely resident? For info : https://www.butterfliesfriendship. com/telephonefriends The Winchester District Local Plan consultation is open until the 12th April.

Go to www.localplan.winchester.gov.uk to see the strategic Issues and give your views on the options posed. Questions include Carbon Neutrality, Homes for all, the Natural Environment, and the Vibrant Economy. If you need a paper copy, please call WCC on 01962 848508 Other consultations are coming this Summer after the May elections.

Hampshire Hospitals consultation on hospital provision see more at www.HampshireTogether.nhs.uk Highways England M3Jn9: go to https:// highwaysengland.co.uk/our-work/southeast/m3-junction-9-improvements/ for details, and to register for updates.

Extensive Flooding Alleviation Work is continuing across the division. This has been a major focus for me in the last year. Several sites have been listed but frustratingly, some of the work isn’t being done until the next financial year due to budgetary constraints or the effects of Covid 19 on work teams.

A pilot of School streets is looking at removing traffic from streets in front of school gates, to improve opportunities for active travel (cycling 20

and walking) into school. We’ll hear the results in the Autumn term.

Residents are seeking non-motorised access to Recycling Centres (HWRC’s) but the promised pilot of ‘’walk in/ cycle in/buggy in/wheelbarrow in’ hasn’t started yet. Hopefully the HWRC’s will be fully open by the Summer, and the pilot will start then.

Additional special school places are being created in Andover at Icknield and Samuel Cody school, due by 2022, and opening in September 21, the Austen Academy at Basingstoke for children on the Autism spectrum. This provision adds to the growing need for special school places for children with SEMH and neurological conditions as well as for those with physical disabilities.

The 20/21 HCC Gigabit scheme being carried out in conjunction with BDUK and Openreach is very popular after a slower start and as a result the local resident/organisers are finding the process challenging ! Of the 26 schemes registered so far in the county, at least 7 are in the Itchen Valley Division! I have appealed to the County to renew their fund of £1m to ensure their top-up support continues.

We asked to scrutinise the process because it is resulting in frustration in failure to deliver by Openreach. It was very useful- you can see extracts of the you-tube of the meeting on The Dever - April 2021

my website: search ‘broadband’.

My website includes news through the month too, but please email me direct if you have any queries.

Jackie.porter@hants.gov.uk 07973 696 085, @JackieLibDem or see my website www.jackieporter.co.uk

City Councillors’ News Public consultation on the City Council’s Strategic Issues and Priorities document continues as part of the review of its local development plan. This document does not allocate sites for development but will set down the approach for those allocations. Our Ward could be impacted significantly by some of the options being considered. Apart from the option for a major new settlement (at Micheldever Station or Royaldown), there is an option to allocate new housing to existing settlements. This could lead to 150 new homes around South Wonston, 125 around Sutton Scotney and 100 near Micheldever, Sparsholt and Littleton. Find out more and have your views on these important matters recorded during the consultation period, which runs until 12th April 2021. Details are on the website at https://winchester.citizenspace.com/ policy-and-planning/wcc-local-plan-sip/ Winchester City Council has set its Council Tax for the next municipal year, with an increase of just over 3%, along with average increases in other charges of 3%. Some cost reductions are to be made, including a further reduction

Stephen

Cllr Stephen Godfrey 119 Downs Road South Wonston SO21 3EH Tel: 01962 884477 sgodfrey@winchester.gov.uk

Caroline

in the number of staff. There is no current proposal to start any new major project. Stephen proposed the removal of evening and Sunday parking charges and help for benefit claimants with the cost of Garden Waste Collection, but the Council would not support these ideas.

Stephen, Patrick and Caroline were again part of a panel that agreed to make a small grant to a local group in Crawley that was seeking funds for their village library. If your organisation needs financial help or guidance to improve our area, let one of us know.

Local elections will go ahead this year on 6th May 2021. You will be able to vote in elections for a County Councillor, a City Councillor and the Police and Crime Commissioner. There is still time to register to vote and to register to vote by post or proxy at www. winchester.gov.uk/elections/absent-votes.

Parish Councils are still all meeting online using video conferencing applications. Please look at their websites for details. All City Councillors are available for you to contact at any time.

Cllr Caroline Horrill Wheatlands Woodman Lane Sparsholt SO21 3SH Tel: 01962 776844 chorrill@winchester.gov.uk

Patrick

Cllr Patrick Cunningham The Corner House North Drive Littleton SO22 6QA Tel: 07866 367897 pcunningham@winchester.gov.uk

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Our Lives, Our Future ~ Remember To Vote On May 6th From floods in Winchester district to fires in Australia, the climate emergency is a global problem. Do you know that some of the solutions are waiting to be discovered in our local communities?

Local elections on 6th May are an exceptional opportunity this year to ensure our District and County Councillors start to take efficient climate action. These are the people who decide how to help local people in their daily lives–such as by improving public transport, reducing air pollution, and creating green spaces.

Councillors can also deliver initiatives to help us take action. Some local communities are waiting to be given the opportunity to tackle this climate and ecological emergency. Last summer, after the first lockdown, a digital media project run by Winchester Action on Climate Change (WinACC) discovered that people are keen to have more opportunities for “active travel” ie safe cycling routes and pleasant places for walking. They also want to buy fresh locally produced food in their local shops in towns and villages.

A growing demand for information about how to recycle more materials and create less waste also emerged. Who will help

22

us do these things?

Would you believe that about 70% of people in the UK do not vote in local elections? Yet 2021 will be the biggest ever series of council elections in England, due to the pandemic.

Who will lead your community during the next few years? Who will get your vote?

Here are a few topics you might like to ask candidates about, although you are the local expert. You know local concerns and issues and what your community needs for healthy, fair, fulfilling and secure lives in a warming world.

Who will help businesses create “green” jobs in your area? Who will ensure new homes are built, homes that will need little or no energy to heat? Can solar panels be installed to power electric cars and new businesses, as well as old?

The climate emergency is much more important than party politics and we need councillors who are prepared to work with other parties for the common good of our communities. Who leads by example?

For further information, take a look at www.winacc.org.uk and Are council elections important? | Climate Action (takeclimateaction.uk)

The Dever - April 2021

Citizens Advice Winchester District Q. We’ve had a lot of issues receiving our post recently and haven’t seen our usual postie around in a little while. Some of my neighbours have had some of their online deliveries delayed too. Is there anything I can do?

You’re not alone, we know posties are currently working very hard, but we’ve seen a huge increase in the number of people coming to us for advice about post and parcel issues.

Letters If you haven’t received any letters in your post, think about if there’s anything you were expecting like bills that might be due soon. If you’re missing a bill you could check your account online to see how else you could pay. Lots of businesses offer online chat, email and phone as a way to contact them.

If you’re worried about missing letters about any benefits you receive you can contact the Department for Work and Pensions on the number given on any previous letters you’ve had. If you have questions about Universal Credit and don’t have a digital account, you can call the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644 You can check Royal Mail’s website for updates on areas which may be experiencing delays.

Parcels If you bought something from a business to be delivered, it’s the seller’s responsibility to make sure the item is delivered to you. If the seller used a courier, they should chase the courier to find out what’s happened to your order–it’s not your responsibility.

Check the delivery address you gave the seller. Then contact them and ask where your order is.

If the seller claims they’ve delivered it or don’t know where it is, you can ask for a redelivery.

You might be able to get a refund Lesley Rose, Advice in some cirServices Manager cumstances for Citizens Advice where the Winchester District, delivery shares her advice on how on how to manage your time was post and delivery issues. essential and you let the trader know ahead of time.

Under the Consumer Rights Act, you can ask the seller to deliver the item again if the item wasn’t delivered either: • by an agreed date • within a reasonable time– usually within 30 days.

If the new delivery fails to come within a reasonable time you can ask the trader for a refund.

If you ordered something from a private seller or if you think a seller had broken the law by refusing to deliver an item, you can contact the Citizens Advice consumer helpline for help.

For specific support with a consumer issue, contact the Citizen’s Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133

The Dever - April 2021 23

Weeds A well known gardener says a weed can be good, It can be pretty and it’s a bit misunderstood.

It gets a label, and a cross that is black, And that’s the end, no one wants it back.

He adds that ANY plant that grows where you don’t want it to be, Should be considered a weed, it’s unwanted, you see.

But if you look close at the labelled weeds that we hate, They are really exquisite, the label should be for debate.

Take the daisy, loved by children world wide.

Picked so carefully and shown off with pride.

Its pretty white petals, with delicate pink ends And a lovely yellow centre, it’s an adorable blend.

Made into caterpillars and daisy chains galore Making yourself, a skill that can’t be ignored.

Then there’s the butter cup, a bowl of petals that shine so bright, And the cluster of stamens packed in so tight.

Held up to the chin, if the reflection shows, It’s a sign you like butter, so the saying goes.

But the dreaded dandelion has to be one of the best, Though it’s thought of by people as a proper pest.

Just start with the colour, how special is this, Its the brightest yellow that you just can’t miss.

It has so many petals, the centre compact, And the rest radiating out to make bewitching impact.

And once these lovely flowers have seen there best, They make the seed head, the part the people really detest.

But this is so pretty, a small white puff ball Just look a little closer, you will be enthralled Each individual seed, like a firework in the sky And as you blow it, the fluffy feathers fly high.

Is it one o’clock, two , three or four The fairy’s use it to tell time, so says folklore.

So next time your out walking, just look all around.

These amazing flowers of weeds are there to be found.

They are not so bad, we need to look again, And not shy away because weed is it’s name.

Sharon P.S. The well known gardener is Alan Titchmarsh.

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Forthcoming Events 2021 May 2nd 10.30 am First Sunday in the Month Walk - The Warren Centre - tbc 5th 7.30 pm Micheldever Parish Council - tbc 27th 10.30 am Plant Sale & Coffee Morning - St Mary the Virgin churchyard.

June 2nd 7.30 pm Micheldever Parish Council - tbc 6th 10.30 am First Sunday in the Month Walk - The Warren Centre - tbc 17th-19th7.30 pm MVG the Peter Pan Pantomime - tbc 20th 2.30 pm MVG the Peter Pan Pantomime - tbc July 3rd & 4th Ellis Run 4th 10.30 am First Sunday in the Month Walk - The Warren Centre - tbc 7th 7.30 pm Micheldever Parish Council–tbc 17th 2.00 pm St Mary’s Church Fête - Lord Rank Playing Field.

September 1st 7.30 pm Micheldever Parish Council - tbc 11th 7.30 pm Safari Supper - tbc.

October 6th 7.30 pm Micheldever Parish Council - tbc November 3rd 7.30 pm Micheldever Parish Council - tbc 1 2 8 7 9 December 2 7 4 1st 7.30 pm Micheldever Parish Council - tbc 5

Sudoku

8

6 4 1

5 7 6 1 (Hard) 8 9 7

8 4 3

Daily Sudoku: Mon 15-Feb-2021

hard

9 4

March Solution

9 8 6 7 3 1 4 2 5 5 6 3 1 9 8 7 4 2 7 9 8 2 6 4 3 5 1 4 8 3 6

1 2 7 4

2 9 5 1

3 4 6 9

5 1 8 7

Daily Sudoku: Mon 15-Feb-2021

7 3 2 5

6 5 9 2

9 6 1 8

8 7 4 3 hard

(c) Daily Sudoku Ltd 2021. All rights reserved.

1 3 4 5 2 6 8 7 9 2 5 7 8 4 9 1 3 6

6 3 7 2 6 3

7

3 7 4 2 6

8 1 5 2 4

Daily Sudoku: Sat 13-Mar-2021

1

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5 9

(c) Daily Sudoku Ltd 2021. All rights reserved.

3 1 9

(c) Daily Sudoku Ltd 2021. All rights reserved.

3

5

hard

http://www.dailysudoku.com/ The Dever - April 2021 25

April Diary 4th 10.30 am First Sunday in the Month Walk - The Warren Centre 7th 7.30 pm Micheldever Parish Council - see notice below 13th 7.30 pm Dever Society AGM - see advert on page 9 27th 7.30 pm Warren Centre AGM - see advert on back cover

Hall Booking East Stratton Village Hall Northbrook Hall The Warren Centre

01962 774517, 07731 952705, info@thewarrencentre.co.uk

Please Remember to Check That Events Are Taking Place Before Venturing Out Mobile Post Office Wednesday morning 9.30 – 10.30 Lord Rank Car Park (please note: times may vary slightly)

www.micheldeverparish.org.uk Parish Council Matters–Planning Applications, Meetings–Agendas, Dates & Minutes, Newsletters, Parish Assembly and more.

The next Micheldever Parish Council meeting will be

Wednesday 7th April Meeting Link–https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89662669263 Dial-In–0203 481 5237 Meeting ID: 896 6266 9263

COVID19 Information - March 17th Update The latest information for Micheldever Parish, including live links to local services.

Visit www.micheldeverparish.org.uk and select COVID19 Information button on home page.

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WHAT SHOULD YOUR

LOCAL PLAN

FOCUS ON ?

Carbon Neutrality Biodiversity and the Natural Environment Conserving and Enhancing the Historic Environment Homes for All Creating a Vibrant Economy Promoting Sustainable Transport and Active Travel Living Well Low Carbon Infrastructure and Local Plan Viability Delivery and Success of the Local Plan

INFORMATION EVENT

ONLINE QUESTIONNAIRE

THE NEW LOCAL PLAN FOR THE DISTRICT (OUTSIDE THE SOUTH DOWNS NATIONAL PARK)

WILL HELP SHAPE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT

Consultation open 15 February to 12 April 2021 To find out more and respond to the consultation visit: www.localplan.winchester.gov.uk You can also register to attend a virtual information event on Thursday 4 March 2pm Friday 12 March 10am

Tuesday 9 March 7pm Saturday 20 March 10.30am

If you are not able to access the internet, please call 01962 848 508 and we will send you copies of the proposals and a feedback form to post back.

ST MARY’S PLANT & CAKE SALE THURSDAY 27th MAY 10.30AM TO MIDDAY ST MARY’S CHURCHYARD MICHELDEVER Please observe social distancing

The Warren Centre AGM Tuesday 27th April 7.30 p.m.

by video conference All very welcome! email info@thewarrencentre.co.uk or text AGM to 07729 797497 for agenda, minutes and link to join

volunteers always needed